Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-08-26

seem to soften. Occasionally she
would unbend SO far as to allow that
gentleman to assist in her investiga-
tions into the fora OF the region Of
the country IN which they were. 5~s
Can you guess, what q revelation
this sweet, tantalizing girl was to- g.
young man who had never known q
woman love? Day after day to watch
her merry petting of those big broth
ers, and then to recall his lonely child
hood and youth. Is not the fate OF
this poor Val easily surmised? #
Tramping alone by the river side,
Val at last discovers and acknow-
lodges to himself the cause Of the,
Vague wretchedness of thepast weeks
acknowledges with g. sickening re-
alization that his happiness for life
is in the hands of a girl who has
only an unreasoning hatred, or at
best q supreme indifference, to give
him; and he grinds his boot-heel into
the soft turf as hegoes slowly towards
the camp.
A sudden turn around a camp OF
fringe-hung birches, and Mr.. Graham
beholds spectacle which drives away
from him all thoughts OF his own
troubles.
Upon gnarly old tree, leaning far
out over the river, sits Miss Bess,
plainly disconsolate. In the pool be-
low her hat is slowly sailing around
like a gondola of new design. At the
sound of footsteps she raises her head,
but as her eyes meet his the welcom-
ing gleam OF hope in them gives way to
| a flash of ire, and she says petulant-
ly:
ooh, I hoped you were steenie.'
3I'm sorry" he says gently, "tut
Steenie would not helpyou more glad
ly than I would were it in my power"
After q pause, during which the
girls tears puzzled him, he continued
quietly:
! LET us 60 home to the boys and
our campfire. 1t is getting late.
You will take cold there; and you
| have lost your hat too;
| "Not at ALL" returns Bess. 81 am
only leaving it there till I come down.
am waiting for the sunset, but you
need not wait too"
! "But should like to-
A long pause ensues. Miss Fleming
apparently gives rapt attention to
| some soft, fluffy little clouds flushed
to a. rose-pink by the setting. Mr..
Graham as intently gives his whole
mind, aided by his good right arm, to
the recovery OF the truant hat, which
| eludes his impromptu fishing pole
with an agility which seems to prove
it endowed with the spirit of it's owner.
Il wish you would come down now"
he breaks forth, landing as he speaks
his dripping and somewhat dilapidat-
ed prize. "You don look comfortable
! up there"
"Well, I'm not" she replied, with
unlooked-for energy and q hysterical
mingling OF tears and laughter. "The
branch that helped me up mere broke
off, and then hoated down the river.
Every time have tried to get down I
have nearly pitched into the water, so
[ have sat here for hours like q craven
image, and my two feet fast asleep.
I'd have jumped in long ago before
you found me sitting here like an
IDIOT" she concludes vehemently,
"only it looks so deep down there"
AS she finishes be has found firm
footing among the roots OF her tree,
and with gravity which causes Bess
to regard him with suspicion says in a
business-like way:
eff you will lean forward trife l
will place you on terra tirna and we
will CO."
But Miss Fleming has resumed her
contemplation Of the sky, without
glancing at him says wilfully:
II told you before that | intended
to stay here to see the sunset. You
are evidently in haste; you may go.
But be sure and tell Steenie / want
him."
Valentines arms fall, his face whit.
ems, and his voice rings with passion
ate anger:
$50 I may not even touch your
hand, and I would give my life for
you! You have nothing bnt undeserv-
ed contempt for me, and IL love
you
He folds his arms upon the tree and
drops his head upon them as if the
end of all things had indeed come.
Bessie's eyes are looking far away,
and within them a new, sweet light of
self-revelatian grows and eeepens.
|
The cool twilight seems to creep closer
with it's soft, cool languor and it's
blurring shadows. The wind signs
thu ough the trees in low, sad whispers,
the murmur OF the river sounds clear
and loud. A saucy bird, very near,
suddenly gives shrill, startling cry,
and Bess stirs uneasily, and with her
eyes droppedsto the helpless little
boots, says, nerv ously, with an argu-
mentative air:
''This out-ot-door life is very health
full, don't you Think"
At this apparently irrelevent remark
! Valentin raises his head and looks at
her in great amazement.
81 have grown so very stout and
heavy" she continues. bravely, "that
l do not think you could lift me down"
II am quite willing to try hesays,
| with eager sarcasm; and with the col.
or flushing her sweet face she leans
towards him with outstretched hands.
| Icannot tell you anything more, ex-
cept that, as they came iuto camp arm
in arm, with q new light in their faces,
| Halls boots received an especial bene'
diction; Martha knocked over the COT
fee-pot in fit of bewilberment;Cz Gar up
set Steenie in the exuberence of his Joy;
while Tom, in an aside, asked "What
will Uncle Ralph say?"
| .s.,,. =. . =.
An Incident That Happened to
aMember Of the Fighting Four
teentf. %*."
"He was the bravest soldier in the
Fourteenth regiment" exclaimed an
old veteran when asked by reporter
: ifhe knew '..Shanty" MCGUIRE. "Know
him! i rather guess so.ss But l shall
l never fnrper the Time when .Shantv,